The Trip That Changed Me
Full-Time Travel, Podcast Nation
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Captivating conversations featuring people whose lives have quite literally been changed by travel: businesses have been inspired, love stories have begun, perspectives have widened, life purposes have been found, and new beginnings have been discovered. The Trip That Changed Me, brought to you by Full-Time Travel, features a bi-weekly interview with entrepreneurs, entertainers, activists, authors, influencers, and everyday adventurers, recounting the personal tales of life-changing travel — uplifting stories that will inspire listeners to take on the world.
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2 days ago
The Himalayas with Meg Stafford: the meaning of happiness, mother-daughter trips, and trekking in the Himalayas
Today we are speaking with Meg Stafford, a clinical social worker, award-winning writer, and mother to two adventurous daughters. As a lifelong traveler, Meg has been on many expeditions with her kids over the years. One particularly meaningful trip would go on to inspire a memoir: Who Will Accompany You? My Mother Daughter Journeys Far From Home and Close to the Heart. When Kate's daughter opted to visit Nepal and Bhutan for a high school project researching the meaning of happiness, Meg decided to go with her. It was a mother-daughter trip that pushed Meg outside of her comfort zone. She found herself avoiding avalanches while climbing to Annapurna basecamp and dodging paint at the Holi Festival in Kathmandu. It also gave her the opportunity to examine what it means for a parent to love and to let go.
Check out Meg on Instagram @megstafford2183 and her website, www.MegStafford.com. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!
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Sep 7, 2023
Thailand with Christine Winebrenner Irick: looking for magic abroad, responsible tourism, and building community through travel
Today's guest is Christine Winebrenner Irick, the entrepreneur behind the group travel company, Lotus Sojourns and the host of The Soul of Travel podcast, which features guests making a positive impact on the tourism industry. In this episode, Christine shares the story of her first big trip to Asia. In the midst of a period of rebirth, as her career and marriage were crumbling, Christine took inspiration from Alex Garland's book, The Beach, and set off for Thailand with one good friend and no solid plans. What unfolded was a perspective-shifting experience that would, in Christine's own words, "reveal who she would become." Fast forward to 2023 and Christine was recently named one of the most influential women in travel, an accolade that speaks to her work highlighting how sustainable tourism can support gender equality. After you've finished listening to this conversation, be sure to check out Christine's podcast, Soul Of Travel, where you'll find an interview with our very own host, Esme Benjamin.
Check out Christine's website, www.lotussojourns.com and follow her on Instagram @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!
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Aug 24, 2023
Morocco with Yulia Denisyuk: the power of signs, misconceptions about Morocco, and a career-changing moment in the Merzouga desert
Today we are speaking with Yulia Denisyuk, who was overworked and unfulfilled at her well-paid job as a brand manager when she took a trip to Morocco – a place she had always fantasized about visiting. It was an eye-opening experience from start to finish and one that would set her on the path to a whole new life. One starlit night in the desert, Yulia made the decision to leave her job and pursue her dream of becoming a travel journalist. The rest is history. Eight years later, Yulia's work has been published in the New York Times, National Geographic, CNTraveler, and many more. She is also the founder of NOMAD + JULES, a small group travel company offering trips to the middle east, and Travel Media Lab, a platform and podcast helping aspiring travel writers get their big break. Join us as we discuss common misconceptions about Morocco, how to delve deeper and really get to know a place, and the power of looking for signs when you need confirmation you're on the right track. If you're harboring a dream but it never quite feels like the right time to make the leap, this episode is for you.
Check out Yulia's website to get 10% off all products, programs, and events at https://travelmedialab.co/esme and follow her on Instagram, @travelmedialab. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!
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Aug 10, 2023
Rowing the Atlantic with Jimmy Carroll: surviving 36 days at sea, the growth opportunity of challenges, and the importance of therapy
Today we are talking with Jimmy Carroll, a former British Army officer who now puts his precision planning expertise to good use as the co-founder of Pelorus, a travel company that creates bespoke trips for travelers seeking unique experiences. In 2020, Jimmy and three friends embarked on the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, a 3,000-mile unsupported rowing race from the Canary Islands to Antigua, known as the world's toughest rowing competition. For 36 days, the team rowed in alternating two-hour stints for 24 hours a day, through storms, sleep deprivation, and an unexpected attack from a 12-foot blue marlin. It was an experience that pushed them to the limit of their resilience but one that was also full of profound beauty and awe. Join us as we discuss the importance of building a united team, the ferocious magic of close encounters with wildlife, how challenges help us grow as individuals, and why we should all be taking better care of our mental health.
Follow Jimmy on Instagram @jimmyalexandercarroll & @pelorusx and check out his website https://pelorusx.com/. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!
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Jul 27, 2023
China with Samantha Brown: travel show hosting, building confidence through rituals, and breaking bread with PB&J on it
Today, Esme speaks with Samantha Brown, who is the host of some of TV's most popular travel shows. Samantha has been traveling the world professionally ever since landing her first job on the Travel Channel's show, Great Vacation Homes. She has since visited 250 cities in 62 countries and has created over 160 hours of programming, including on PBS for her own Emmy award-winning show, Samantha Brown's Places to Love. As you can imagine, Samantha's life has been full of meaningful trips, but a trip to China ahead of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 altered her mindset as a traveler. In this episode, Samantha shares how a brief encounter with two young girls helped her to understand that travel isn't about the must-sees, it's about the connections you make along the way.
Check out Samantha's website, https://samantha-brown.com/. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!
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Jul 13, 2023
Prince Edward Island with Lane Moore: from loneliness to belonging through solo travel
In this episode, Esme speaks with writer and performer Lane Moore. Lane juggles multiple creative projects at the same time and earns rave reviews for all of them. She is the award winning former sex and relationships editor of Cosmopolitan magazine and the author of two books, How To Be Alone, and the recently released, You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Relationships as an Adult. She is also the host of a podcast, I Thought it Was Just Me, front person for the band, It Was Romance, and she tours a comedy show called, Tinder Live, which has been praised by critics from the New York Times, New York Magazine and CBS. In this episode, Lane shares the story of a solo trip to Prince Edward Island, an idyllic maritime province in eastern Canada, best known for being the setting of Anne of Green Gables, Lane's favorite book from childhood. As somebody who always thought they'd be alone in the world, Lane was surprised to discover through this trip that you can find kindred spirits in the most unlikely of places.
Check out Lane's website, lanemoore.org. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!
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Jun 29, 2023
Charleston with Lisette Austin: DNA travel, family reunions, and the challenges of tracing Black genealogy in America
This week Esme is speaking with Lisette Austin, host of the award-winning podcast, The Globetrotter Lounge, which features diverse women sharing their most creative ways to travel. Lisette is best known for her travel hacking expertise – skills she shares in her online course, "Jetset 101: Becoming a Travel Hacker" – but it's her personal passion for DNA travel that she is sharing with us today. Lisette is an adoptee from Seattle, who, with the help of consumer DNA testing, managed to track down her birth parents. The experience of delving into her roots inspired Lisette to explore her family geography, traveling to the places her biological ancestors lived hundreds of years ago. In this episode, Lisette tells the story of a family reunion in Charleston, South Carolina, an experience that stirred complex emotions as she grappled with family stories, Black history, the immigrant experience, and the integration of her own identity in light of everything she was learning and experiencing.
Check out Lisette's website https://jetsetlisette.com and visit travelingmyroots.com to learn about her current DNA project and sign up for the substack email newsletter. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!
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Jun 15, 2023
Iran with Travel Writer Pico Iyer: the search for paradise, traveling with the Dalai Lama, and the appeal of complex places
This week Esme speaks to Pico Iyer, the prolific travel writer and brilliant mind behind 16 books, hundreds of essays, and several TED Talks. Pico's work touches on globalism, Islamic mysticism, the Cuban Revolution, and the Dalai Lama - a personal friend and travel companion of his. In his latest book, The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise, Pico weaves together travel experiences with the decades he's spent in monasteries to explore how each of us can find paradise amidst the complexity of real life. In this episode, Pico shares stories and impressions from Iran, a place he's been fascinated by since he was a boy and which defied his expectations in the best possible way.
Check out Pico's website https://picoiyerjourneys.com. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!
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Jun 1, 2023
Cycling Around the World with Juliana Bühring: escaping a cult, learning to trust strangers, and cycling 18,000 miles across 19 countries
This week Esme speaks to Juliana Bühring, an ultra-endurance cyclist, best-selling author, and children's rights activist. Juliana's life story is one of triumphing over adversity. Raised in a cult known as the Children of God, Juliana developed the necessary survival skills of resilience and adaptability from a young age – qualities that would prove instrumental to her future achievements. After escaping the cult at the age of 23, Juliana wrote the book, Not Without My Sister, which contributed to the group's eventual demise in 2010. While building a new, radically different life for herself in the wake of all this, Juliana reconnected with an old flame – an explorer named Hendri – and the two developed a long-distance romance. In another tragic turn of events, Hendri was killed while on an expedition in the Congo after being pulled from his kayak by a crocodile. His body was never recovered. Reckless with grief and determined to make the most of her one precious life, Juliana embarked on her first ultra-endurance ride – an 18,000-mile journey through 19 countries which she completed in just 152 days, earning her a world record. In this episode, Juliana discusses using mental fortitude to push through physical pain and meet her goals, learning to put faith and trust in strangers, and being coerced into rum-filled evenings in Australia in exchange for free accommodation.
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May 18, 2023
Sri Lanka with Laurie Woolever: writing with Anthony Bourdain, traveling sober, and working with food
Welcome to Season 4 of The Trip That Changed Me! Our first guest of the new season is Laurie Woolever, writer, editor, public speaker, a graduate of the French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Center) in New York, and former assistant to Anthony Bourdain, with whom she co-wrote several books. The most recent of those books, World Travel: An Irreverent Guide, Laurie sadly had to complete alone following Bourdain’s death in 2018.
In this episode, Laurie shares memories from Sri Lanka, where she joined Bourdain (or “Tony,” as she affectionately calls him) on a shoot for the TV show “Parts Unknown.” For Laurie, this trip was part business and part pleasure; an opportunity to explore the lush island nation with her friend and mentor while working on a story about Sri Lankan home cooking, but it was especially significant because she was newly sober. Navigating triggers and travel rituals that involved alcohol was challenging, but the experience shifted Laurie’s perspective. To her surprise, the world was bigger and better without the booze. This interview is full of wonderful, personal anecdotes about Anthony Bourdain the traveler, plus loads of insider tips that food-obsessives will appreciate.
Follow Laurie on Instagram @lauriewoolever and visit her website lauriewoolever.com to find her books and more information. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!
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Dec 15, 2022
India with Elizabeth Becker: discovering a new world, addressing overtourism, and life as a war correspondent
Elizabeth Becker is an award-winning journalist and author who started out as a war correspondent at The Washington Post before going on to work for public radio and The New York Times. She is also the author of three books including Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism, which was an Amazon book of the year, and You Don’t Belong Here: How Three Women Rewrote the Story of War, which won the 2022 Goldsmith Award from Harvard. But long before the achievements and accolades, Elizabeth was a graduate with a dream of visiting India, a country she’d never been to but knew a lot about thanks to her degree in South Asian Studies. In this episode, Elizabeth shares the story of the eventful year she spent living and learning in India, and how that first real travel experience would go on to shape her career and views about tourism. Buckle up, because Elizabeth has got some wild anecdotes to share!
You can learn more about Elizabeth and purchase her books by visiting ht…
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Dec 1, 2022
Around the World with Colin O’Brady: rejecting comfortable complacency, goal setting, and having a possible mindset
Colin O’Brady is probably best known for being one of the world’s most recognized endurance athletes and explorers. He’s a 10-time world record holder and two-time Everest summiteer, and the first person in history to cross the continent of Antarctica solo, unsupported and completely human-powered – an experience he wrote about in his best-selling memoir The Impossible First.
In this episode, Colin shares the story of a post-college, round-the-world trip that, unfortunately, ended in tragedy. In Thailand, Colin was severely burned in an accident. His injuries were so bad that doctors believed he’d have trouble ever walking normally, but Colin proved them all wrong thanks to what he calls a “possible mindset.”
Esme and Colin also discuss rejecting comfortable complacency, the importance of goal setting, and the concept behind his latest book The 12-Hour Walk, which aims to inspire 10 million people to take a one-day transformative journey to conquer their minds and unloc…
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Jun 16, 2022
Iceland with Gabby Beckford: finding paid/free travel opportunities, female solo travel, and cultivating a ‘Why not me?’ mindset
Gabby Beckford is the Gen Z travel opportunity expert behind Packs Light, a content brand designed to empower others to seek risks, seize opportunity, skip debt, and see the world ASAP. Although Gabby was raised in a family of travelers, it was her first solo vacation – a backpacking trip through Iceland which she took right before starting college – that solidified her aspirations to see as much of the world as possible. Gabby is now a TEDx speaker and a travel expert whose work has been published in Travel + Leisure, National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and Huffington Post. In this episode, Gabby shares with Esme the highs and lows of her experience in Iceland and how even the terrible parts were instrumental to her personal development. Plus, how she used scholarships, grants, and contests to travel the world while in college, the transformative effects of solo travel, and how to cultivate a ‘why not me?’ mindset and go after what you want in life.
You can find Gabby on…
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Jun 2, 2022
Burgundy and Paris with Rachel Signer: discovering natural wine, creating relationships with cities, and following inconvenient love
Rachel Signer was an aspiring author living in Brooklyn and cobbling together a living by freelance writing and working various jobs in hospitality when she was invited on a food and wine themed press trip to Burgundy and Paris. It was a trip that would affirm her deep appreciation for the French language, culture, cuisine, and wine – specifically, natural wine. Rachel spent the next few years following her heart, first to Paris where she dreamed of opening a bar with her best friend, and then to Australia to pursue a relationship with a natural winemaker – the story she recounts in her book, You Had Me at Pét-Nat: A Natural Wine-Soaked Memoir. As she tried to figure out which life path and which place to commit to, Rachel channeled her knowledge and her passion into launching a natural wine-themed publication, Pipette Magazine, and her own label of hand-produced natural wine, Persephone. In this episode, Rachel shares with Esme how that trip to France took her deeper into the wor…
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May 19, 2022
The US by Train with Cheryl B. Engelhardt: creating music on a train, becoming a master passenger, and getting emotionally unstuck
Cheryl B. Engelhardt is a composer and songwriter whose new age, ambient music has been featured in films, ads, tv shows, and on meditation apps like Insight Timer. Cheryl began music lessons as a toddler; since then, her career has taken her all over the world but it’s always been unique places and experiences that inspire her most creative work – experiences like a nine-day, cross country train trip from New York to Los Angeles and back, during which she composed and recorded her new album, The Passenger. With nothing but a laptop and a USB keyboard, Cheryl created twelve tracks while passing incredible views and roving wildlife. In this episode, Cheryl shares the highs and lows of that journey, which served as a creative experiment and an opportunity to process grief following the recent loss of a dear friend. Plus, Esme and Cheryl discuss the magic of train travel, how being physically in motion gives us the momentum to get emotionally and creatively unstuck, and the importanc…
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May 5, 2022
Los Cabos with Michael Baldwin: life after failure, speed-dating new places, and the best parts of Mexico
Michael Baldwin is a luxury real estate agent who made a lucrative living in Texas until the financial crisis of 2008 temporarily derailed his career. Ever the optimist, Michael decided to use the opportunity to live abroad, and set about speed-dating all the international destinations within a four-hour flight of Houston. Ultimately, it was Los Cabos, Mexico that stole his heart. In this episode, Michael shares the story of road-tripping down the Baja California peninsula to start a new life in San José del Cabo, and why he’s never looked back. Plus, Esme and Michael discuss Michael’s ethos of turning lemons into lemonade, the logistics of setting up a new life in Mexico, and why the local community is what really makes a place feel like home.
You can learn more about Los Cabos by going to www.visitloscabos.travel/featured-offers/. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting fulltimetravel.co and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow s…
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Apr 21, 2022
New Orleans with Hilton Head Island's Ahmad Ward: the history of Historic Mitchelville Park, humanizing our stories, and creating "brave spaces"
Ahmad Ward is the Executive Director for Hilton Head Island’s Historic Mitchelville Park. If you’ve never heard of Mitchelville, then prepare for an eye-opening history lesson. Established in 1862, a year before Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, it was the first self-governed town of formerly enslaved people in the United States. In this episode, Ahmad shares how his five-year plan to exit the world of museums was quickly discarded when he began interviewing for a role at Mitchelville Freedom Park while on vacation in New Orleans. How a moving visit to the Whitney Plantation, the only Louisiana plantation that centers the experiences of the enslaved population, helped shape his ideas for the project. Plus, Ahmad and Esme discuss how to communicate hard topics in a palatable way, creating spaces for authentic expression and respectful listening, and the ongoing important work of highlighting Mitchelville, a piece of American history that deserves to be widely kn…
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Apr 7, 2022
Walking the Length of Africa with Mario Rigby: near-death experiences, walkabouts as a rite of passage, and becoming a modern explorer
Today’s guest is Mario Rigby, an eco-explorer from Turks & Caicos who became famous in adventure-travel circles for walking the entire length of Africa, from Cape Town to Cairo. A goal-oriented mindset and ability to push his physical limits have always motivated Mario, who competed for the Turks & Caicos national track and field team in his youth. He was 30 years old and working for himself as a fitness coach in Toronto, Canada before the adventure itch sent him on a life-changing two-year journey through Africa, which he undertook solo and entirely on foot.
In this episode, Mario shares experiences from his epic journey, from life-affirming encounters with locals and wildlife to near-death experiences, and the mental and physical fortitude it took to complete his mission. Plus, navigating sudden fame as the news of his trip spread across the continent, storytelling as a tool for encouraging courageousness, and the power of walkabouts as a rite of passage.
You can find Mario on I…
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Mar 24, 2022
52 Places with Sebastian Modak: landing the dream job, leaning into serendipity, and finding universal lessons in every travel experience
Today’s guest is Sebastian Modak, travel journalist and current editor-at-large at Lonely Planet. Born in the US to a Colombian mother and an Indian father, Sebastian was a world explorer from the get-go. During his formative early years, Sebastian’s family moved to new countries frequently, giving him an ability to bond quickly with others and an aptitude for observing and appreciating other cultures – qualities that would serve Sebastian well when he landed a coveted job as the New York Times 52 Places Traveler in 2019. In this episode, Sebastian shares stories and lessons from the 52 weeks he spent visiting 52 different places, making lifelong friendships, and inspiring thousands of people through a constant stream of storytelling. Plus, how 52 weeks on the road impacted Sebastian’s concept of home, his go-to tactics for finding a good story fast, and why being honest about your ignorance as a traveler is a shortcut to bonding with locals.
You can find Sebastian on Instagr…
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Feb 24, 2022
Paris and Barcelona with Laura Edmondson: navigating van life, challenging the status quo, and diversifying the outdoor community
Laura Edmondson is a digital creator, educator, organizer, podcast host, and owner of Cosmic Market, an online vintage jewelry shop. She’s also one of those adventurous travelers living the van life dream, roaming around the US working remotely on projects she’s passionate about with her two dogs, Willy and Stan. But before Laura set off for a life of endless freedom in her van, she was following a more traditional path. After graduating, Laura took a 9 to 5 job in education and tried to get excited about the same traditional milestones of adulthood that many people from her hometown were pursuing; the house, the spouse, the kids, the linear career. That all changed following a trip to France and Spain with a friend, which brought Laura to the realization that a life of travel, a life on her own terms, was what really made her soul sing. In today’s episode, Laura and Esme discuss the logistics of life on the road, diversifying the van life and outdoor communities, and the importa…
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Feb 10, 2022
Hilton Head Island's Andrew Carmines: growing self-confidence in the wilderness, the ADHD advantage, and the importance of manners
Andrew Carmines is a successful business owner and pillar of the community on Hilton Head Island, where he was born and raised. As the President of Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks, founder of the Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival, and a board member of multiple conservation organizations, Andrew has his hands full these days... but he wasn’t always so focused and together. After almost failing out of college, Andrew took a break from studying to train as a flyfishing guide in Cooper Landing, Alaska, a remote and wild area of the country ripe for adventure. Living in a trailer, experiencing close encounters with bears, and learning to navigate the churning Kenai River taught Andrew about his own capabilities, grew his confidence, and ultimately helped him thrive back at college and beyond. On this episode, Andrew and Esme discuss the ways Andrew’s polite Southern upbringing has been an asset on both his travels and in his career, the ways Andrew’s ADHD makes him particula…
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Jan 27, 2022
Europe with Brian Malarkey: the beauty of simple cooking, finding your echo, and fitting in amongst misfits
You may already be familiar with today’s guest, Brian Malarkey. He’s a celebrated chef and TV personality, star of shows like Top Chef and The Taste, owner of multiple successful restaurants including the nationally acclaimed San Diego establishments Herb & Wood and Animae, and founder of Chef’s Life, a range of delicious oils that will change the way you cook. After attending culinary school and finding the entire experience too rigid and precise for his creative tendencies, Brian seized the opportunity to travel Europe with his best friend, interrailing from Paris all the way down to Marrakesh. After getting robbed and beaten up on the first night, the two slowly earned their travel stripes, living frugally, trading tips with other travelers, and cooking delicious meals for entire hostels of people. In this episode, Esme and Brian discuss why traveling on a really tight budget is a great way to get to know a place and its people, how Europe taught Brian that simplicity is ofte…
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Jan 13, 2022
The UK & Ireland with Remy Ruesenberg: Vegas behind-the-scenes, the kindness of strangers, and popping the question
Remy Ruesenberg is a born and bred Las Vegan who grew up around the hospitality industry; Remy’s mother worked at the Bellagio from the time he was born and Remy eventually followed in her footsteps, steadily working his way up from pool lifeguard to his current role: Director Of Hotel Operations at Park MGM & NoMad Las Vegas. In this episode, Remy shares a story that helped shape his ethos as a leader in the hospitality industry — a road trip through the UK and Ireland planned by his wife’s grandfather. However, Grandpa’s preferred way of traveling was to mostly wing it; walk up to a new village, stop into a pub for a pint with the locals, and ask around for places to stay that night. For Remy, it was a lesson in the joy of serendipity and a reminder that the ultimate hospitality is kindness from strangers. This was also the trip when Remy got down on one knee and asked his partner to marry him... in a Scottish castle, naturally!
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Dec 30, 2021
Lebanon & Beyond with Rose Previte: sharing culture through food, bringing flavors back home, and international culinary adventures
Chef and restaurateur Rose Previte was raised in a food-loving, Sicilian-Lebanese family in Ohio, and grew up working for her mother’s Middle Eastern catering business. Her own first endeavor, Compass Rose, is a restaurant inspired by the extensive travel she did while living in Russia with her husband, who was posted there as a correspondent for NPR. Since then, Rose has opened a second critically acclaimed restaurant in DC called Maydan which earned a Michelin star in 2019.
In this episode, Rose and Esme discuss the ways that identity and culture are expressed through our cuisines, the amazing food-focused trip through North Africa and the Middle East Rose took with her Maydan team, and the experience of revisiting Lebanon with her twin aunts who, like many second-generation immigrants of their age from that part of the Middle East, were returning to their maternal homeland for the very first time.
You can find Rose on Instagram @roseprevite and visit her restaurants Compa…
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Dec 16, 2021
Annecy and New York with Jodi Ettenberg: embracing spontaneity, becoming a full-time traveler, and cultivating resilience
Celebrated travel and food blogger Jodi Ettenberg shares not one but two life-changing trips on this week’s episode. The first, a solo jaunt to Annecy while she was studying for her master's in France, signaled the start of Jodi’s life as a devoted traveler. Jodi got the travel bug following Annecy, and after briefly taking a job at a law firm in New York, she began traveling full time, making a successful living from her blog Legal Nomads. The second trip, a visit to Brooklyn in 2017, during which she wound up in the ER, would effectively end a decade of international roaming. Jodi underwent a lumbar puncture to rule out a suspected condition, a fairly routine procedure that didn’t go according to plan, leaving her virtually bedbound and in constant chronic pain from a spinal CSF leak. In this episode, Jodi and Esme discuss the power of storytelling, retraining the mind using Vipassana meditation, and making the choice to find gratitude, meaning, and beauty when life unspool…
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Dec 2, 2021
Belize with Jessica Blotter: sustainable tourism, becoming a conscious tourist, and making a positive travel impact
Jessica Blotter is a born entrepreneur and journalist who spent her early 20s trying to figure out how she was going to leave her mark on the world. The answer came during a cruise trip to Belize with her partner’s family. Jessica adored the Central American country but was struck by the poverty, animal exploitation, and lack of sustainable ways to offer support. From this experience sprung Kind Traveler, the world’s first socially conscious give-and-get hotel booking and media platform. When travelers book a hotel using Kind Traveler, they donate $10 to a local non-profit and in return, they receive exclusive rates and perks from the hotel; it’s a win all-around. On this episode, Jessica and Esme discuss the moment some stray dogs gave Jessica the idea for Kind Traveler, how the heart-opening effects of travel encourage a more giving mindset, and why leading with a curious spirit is the best way to find your purpose.
You can learn more about Kind Traveler by follo…
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Nov 11, 2021
Cambodia with Scott Neeson: making it in Hollywood, following your instincts, and the secret to a life well lived
Scott Neeson has lived many lives. He was born in Scotland and raised in Australia in a small industrial town with a high unemployment rate. As a young man, he managed to get an entry-level job as a movie theater projectionist, and from there had one of those legendary ascents to the role of President of 20th Century Fox International. It was as glamorous as you’d imagine - think private jets with Hollywood’s biggest actors - but suddenly seemed insignificant after a trip to Cambodia in 2004. Shaken by a visit to a landfill where he saw hundreds of children scavenging to survive, Scott left his Hollywood career, moved to Phnom Penh, and founded the Cambodian Children’s Fund, an organization that now educates almost 2000 children and supports families with community-based projects. Scott and Esme discuss the celebrity tantrum that gave him the nudge needed to quit and pursue his calling in Cambodia, the meaningful milestones that make the anxious, sleepless nights worthwhile, and…
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Oct 28, 2021
Backpacking Through Europe with Brenna Holeman: confessional travel blogging, showing up authentically online, and finding love abroad
Travel blogger extraordinaire Brenna Holeman started traveling solo in 2006 and has since been to 103 countries, chronicling her adventures along the way on her blog This Battered Suitcase. What sets Brenna apart from other travel bloggers is her candid style of storytelling. Always personal, intimate and inviting, her work immerses you. In this episode, Brenna shares the story of her first solo trip backpacking around Europe and the ways it ignited her career as a travel writer. Esme and Brenna speak about Brenna’s personal, confessional approach to blogging, the ways travel sets the stage for falling in love, and the joy of moving home to Winnipeg, Canada, after living in Japan and the UK for many years.
You can find Brenna on Instagram @thisbatteredsuitcase and visit her website thisbatteredsuitcase.com.
Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting fulltimetravel.co and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t m…
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Oct 14, 2021
Greece with Mari Andrew: finding “special” places, exploring ourselves through travel, and the journey to a self-seeking mindset
This week’s guest is the insanely talented Mari Andrew, a writer, artist, speaker, and our host Esme’s personal favorite social media follow. She is known on Instagram for her beautiful watercolor illustrations and profound musings on life's messiest experiences. The success of her beautiful books, Am I There Yet? and My Inner Sky, are a testament to the fact that the more personal the experience shared by an author, the more universal it ends up being. Mari has always been a big traveler; specifically, she’s always loved to travel alone, be the observer, soak up experiences, and channel them into her creativity. But a solo trip to the Greek island of Hydra changed that preference for aloneness. While exploring this idyllic island, so dazzlingly white she describes it as "diamond-like," Mari had the realization that beauty is made to be shared. In this episode, Mari and Esme discuss the shift from self-seeking to self-sharing, the hyper observational mindset travel creates…
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Sep 30, 2021
Ethiopia with Marcus Samuelsson: cooking as a love language, cultural contrasts, and connecting to our roots
Our guest today is one of America’s most beloved chefs, Marcus Samuelsson. Marcus is a man of many accolades; he’s the youngest person ever to receive a three-star review from the New York Times and the winner of multiple James Beard awards including one for his PBS show, No Passport Required. He’s been a judge on the Food Network’s Chopped and authored several books including a best-selling memoir, Yes, Chef, and 2020s The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food. When Marcus is not busy running multiple restaurants around the world, including his latest Baha Mar Fish + Chop House, he also hosts a podcast called This Moment with Swedish rapper Timbuktu. In this week’s episode, Marcus shares a truly unique and personal story surrounding a trip to Ethiopia to meet his birth father. Esme and Marcus discuss his early experiences of cooking with his adoptive family in Sweden, how the diversity of New York City opened up possibilities for him as a young Black chef, and th…
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Sep 16, 2021
Zimbabwe with Sarah Dusek: exploring the unknown, recreating the safari experience, and championing female entrepreneurs
Sarah Dusek is the co-founder of Under Canvas, the massively popular safari-style glamping company with locations just minutes from America's most iconic national parks. After turning Under Canvas into an Inc. 5000 company, Sarah set her sights on backing women-led businesses in South Africa with her private investment fund Enygma Ventures. Both of Sarah's companies were influenced by a trip to Zimbabwe in 1999; Sarah had just graduated and was taking six months to volunteer with a local organization during the AIDS crisis. Zimbabwe brought out the activist in Sarah and shaped her belief that changing the world starts with uplifting women. In this episode, Esme and Sarah discuss Sarah's passion for championing the underdog, the beauty of living and working in a place that's nothing like home, and being a lifelong voyager.
Follow Under Canvas on Instagram @undercanvasofficial and learn more about Sarah's investment fund Enygma Ventures by visiting enygmaventures.com.
Learn more…
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Sep 2, 2021
Southeast Asia with Ruben Arribas and Rachel Pregunta: Couchsurfing, finding love abroad, and turning travel into a career
Ruben and Rachel, the couple behind the popular blog and Instagram Gamin Traveler, crossed paths for the first time when Ruben, who's from Spain, was exploring the Philippines. He was on a tight budget and used the site Couchsurfing.com to find free places to crash each night, which was how he wound up staying with Rachel. The two hit it off, fell in love, and in 2015, started backpacking together. The couple has now built a successful business monetizing their blog and social media and running an agency that helps solopreneurs follow in their footsteps. In this episode, Esme speaks to Ruben and Rachel about traveling on a budget, building a successful blog, finding time to just be a couple when you also run a business together, making long-distance relationships work, and taking an open-hearted approach to strangers.
Follow Rachel and Rubin on Instagram @gamintraveler and visit their blog at gamintraveler.com.
Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting fulltimetravel.co and f…
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Aug 19, 2021
Backpacking Through Europe with Jason Moore: catching the travel bug, building community, and location-independent lifestyles
If you like travel podcasts, then you may already be familiar with this week's guest. Jason Moore is the host and creator of the top-rated Zero To Travel podcast, on which he shares thoughtful interviews, unconventional perspectives, and actionable advice to help people travel the world on their own terms. He's also the co-founder of the Location Indie community and the Lifestyle Launch Academy, through which he's mentored hundreds of budding entrepreneurs, helping them build a side hustle and break free of their 9-5 so they can do more of what they love in life.
On this episode, Jason and Esme discuss the highs and lows of his first big solo trip backpacking through Europe on the Interrail. Ultimately, Jason says the experience made him determined to make travel part of his life in a more permanent way. If you've dreamed of becoming a digital nomad, this episode is a must-listen.
Follow Jason on Instagram @zerototravel and find out more about the Zero To Travel Podcast here.
Le…
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Aug 5, 2021
From Mexico to Peru with Adrien Behn: storytelling, awakening new passions, and the kindness of strangers
Before Adrien Behn became a triple threat storyteller — writing, podcasting, and performing live — she worked with baked goods. Specifically, she made pies at a bakery in Portland, Oregon. Disillusioned by her job, her city, and her toxic relationship, Adrien decided to travel from Mexico all the way down to Peru. It was a trip that recalibrated her life entirely. Weeks into the journey, Adrien split from her boyfriend, discovered a passion and aptitude for storytelling, and began recording soundscapes and conversations from her travels — audio that would become her podcast, Strangers Abroad. She boasts that her tales have galvanized women to book one-way tickets and caused grown men to faint. On this episode, Esme and Adrienne discuss using travel as an escape hatch when life is not going the way you want it to, the joy of traveling solo, and why she loves Utah more than any other state.
Follow Adrien on Instagram @strangersabroadpodcast to hear about her upcoming co…
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Jul 22, 2021
Namibia with Liz Warner: running with a sense of purpose, navigating a quarter life crisis, and finding a new direction
Avid traveler and distance runner Liz Warner was on honeymoon in Namibia when she came up with the idea for Run to Reach – a global journey that would involve running 30 marathons in 30 different countries before her 30th birthday – all in support of women-focused NGOs around the world. Run to Reach went on to raise over 50,000 dollars, and would take her from the dense jungles of Sierra Leone to the central highlands of Afghanistan. Liz would wear out six pairs of running sneakers, burn 156,000 calories, spend the night in 64 different places and encounter infinite acts of kindness along the way.
In this episode, Liz and Esme discuss running and traveling as a way to process grief (Liz ran her first marathon in Tokyo shortly after her father passed away), her deep love for Afghanistan, why travel is and will always be the best form of education and her victorious pivot after the pandemic canceled her final two races.
Liz is the host of From Her View Podcast and founder of Run To R…
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Jul 8, 2021
The Amazon with Jacki Hill-Murphy: being a modern explorer, ageless adventuring, and following in the footsteps of intrepid women
The spirit of wanderlust has always been present in modern-day explorer Jacki Hill-Murphy. After many unfulfilling years working as an English teacher, Jacki made the decision to recreate the journey of Isabel Godin, an intrepid woman she had previously studied during her master's program. In 1769, Godin became the first European to travel down the Amazon river and the sole survivor of her 42-person, 3000-mile expedition. Following in her footsteps, Jacki braved piranha-infested waters in a dugout canoe, meeting locals and having extraordinary experiences along the way. Today’s episode delves into the highs and lows of that adventure and the ones that followed, the intentions of female explorers and how they differed from their male counterparts, and what it is like to be a vegetarian in remote locations.
Jacki is the author of three books that reflect her empowering belief that adventures can be ageless. You can find her books and more info by visiting jackihill-mu…
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Mar 4, 2021
Bhutan with Eric Weiner: karma, wisdom quests and the truth about happiness
Eric Weiner, a travel correspondent for NPR, was experiencing a self-described midlife crisis when he came up with the idea for his first book: The Geography of Bliss. The project took him to the world’s most contented countries, including Bhutan, a place famous for its Gross National Happiness index. It was there he met Karma, a buddhist monk and academic who changed how Eric saw the world and how he defined happiness.
Find out more about Eric, his work and his latest projects at www.ericweinerbooks.com
Join Eric for a writers workshop in Bhutan
Buy Eric’s latest book
The Socrates Express
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Feb 18, 2021
Bavaria with John Hudson: military survival training, honing environmental awareness, and hardship inoculation
Back when John Hudson was a university student and aspiring pilot with the Royal Air Force, he naively volunteered for winter survival training in Germany. Armed with limited supplies, the goal was to travel stealthily through the freezing Bavarian wilderness while evading capture. It was an extreme challenge, but John had an unusual aptitude for it. Years later, he would go on to become the British Military's chief Survival, Evasion, Resistance & Extraction instructor, an author, and the star of Discovery's prime-time show 'Survive That' (AKA 'Dude You're Screwed' in the US).
Learn more about John on his website: JohnHudsonSurvival.com
Follow him on Instagram
Buy John’s book from your local bookstore:
How to Survive: Self-Reliance in Extreme Circumstances
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Jan 21, 2021
Cambodia with Marta Tucci: solo travel, healing from trauma, and building a creative career
Trigger warning: this episode includes descriptions of a violent attack. When Marta Tucci was living in London, pursuing a career in photography, a stranger forced his way into her home and attacked her. Left with PTSD and extreme anxiety, Marta was a shell of her former self. But, with the encouragement of those who know her best, she decided to face her fears head-on with a solo trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In the shadow of a city still rebuilding itself from past trauma, Marta worked on her own healing. A year later she would depart stronger, wiser, and with an established career as a documentary photographer.
See Marta's work at martatucci.com
Find her on Instagram @martatucci
Visit nayatraveler.com to learn more about traveling with Marta's team
Check out @nayatravler on Instagram
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Jan 7, 2021
Mexico with Amanda Keidan: Day of the Dead, travel as creative inspiration, and falling in love with a place at first sight
Twenty years into a career as a jewelry designer and on the cusp of her 40th birthday, Amanda Keidan was feeling restless and ready for a new challenge when some friends invited her on a trip to the Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende to celebrate Day of the Dead. Five days later, she was smitten with the place and browsing real estate with the idea to open a boutique hotel. In 2019, Casa Delphine welcomed its first guests and a year later, despite the pandemic, the property has been celebrated as one of the hottest new hotels by Conde Nast Traveler.
Find out more about Casa Delphine
Follow the hotel in Instagram @casadelphine
Check out Keidan Jewelry
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Dec 17, 2020
Bucket List Trips with Lauren & Chris Pronger: wellness retreats, living your dreams, and the healing power of travel
Legendary NHL defenseman, Chris Pronger, and his entrepreneur wife, Lauren, are the duo behind Well Inspired Travels – a boutique travel company that curates five-star trips with a health and wellness mindset. Before launching the company, both had brushes with injury and illness that served to highlight the ways travel and quality time with the people you love can aid healing.Learn more about Well Inspired Travels at wellinspiredtravels.com
Follow Well Inspired Travels on Instagram @wellinspiredtravels
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Dec 3, 2020
Bali with Amy Chan: the psychic, the love curse, and the heart healer
After a New York psychic told Amy Chan – the heartbreak expert behind Renew Breakup Bootcamp – that a love curse was the cause of her romantic troubles, she promptly headed to Bali in search of spiritual guidance. After meeting with more than 20 balians (traditional Balinese healers), one particularly profound session appeared to lift the curse. Just four months later, Amy began dating her current partner.
Learn more about Renew Breakup Bootcamp at renewbreakupbootcamp.com
Buy Amy's new book: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062914743
Follow Amy on Instagram @missamychan
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Jul 9, 2020
Across the US with Meghan O’Dea: family travel, madcap whimsy, and seeing America by train
Meghan O'Dea is a Lonely Planet editor who inherited a love of travel from her fearless and adventurous grandmother, Florence – a devoted train traveler who befriended strangers everywhere she went. One of Florence's bucket-list goals was to travel by train with each grandchild, so at age 10, Meghan was treated to a special one-on-one, long-distance journey across the US. On today's episode, Megan shares memories from that ten-day trip with Florence, during which they stopped in New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and ultimately Buffalo for a family reunion – enjoying moments of "madcap whimsy" along the way. As a travel writer and editor, Meghan has since completed her grandmother’s goal to visit all 50 states. Later in the episode, she offers listeners recommendations for solo travel, and explains why she still prefers hostels to hotels.
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Jun 11, 2020
Eastern Europe with Lillian Rafson: serendipity, surprise vacations, and making friends abroad
*Please note, this episode was recorded before the lockdown and worldwide BLM protests.
Lillian Rafson was living in New York City in her early-twenties when she felt the itch to escape. She decided to travel before determining her next move. On today's episode, Lillian describes a summer of solo travel through Eastern Europe, during which she encountered the concept of surprise travel agencies for the first time. Lillian shares milestones from that journey – through the Pyrenees, Poland and Latvia – which led to a decision to move back to her hometown of Pittsburgh. Shortly after, Lillian hit the ground running with the launch of her business, Pack Up + Go – a surprise travel agency that’s now sent over 20,000 US travelers to 90 destinations nationwide!
Learn more about Lillian and Pack Up + Go by visiting PackUpGo.com!
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May 14, 2020
Burgundy with Andy Levine: wine, spontaneity, and the magic of traveling by bike
Like many people with an entrepreneurial streak, Andy Levine’s endeavors began at an early age. While studying for a degree in philosophy and business at Denver University, he attempted to organize a bike race (Levine jokes his true major was “fresh snow and mountain biking”), but it failed to get any traction. The day after his graduation ceremony, feeling unsure of his calling, Levine packed up his beloved bike and headed to Beaune, France. It would end up being the trip that defined his working life, inspiring the launch of his luxury adventure and cycling company, DuVine . In this episode, Levine describes the advantages of traveling by bike, from smelling the terroir and meeting locals, to exploring remote areas and making spontaneous pit stops. Find out what a typical day on a DuVine tour has in store, why he recommends that people do less planning in their everyday lives (and in travel), and his personal favorite tours depending on the season.
Learn more about Andy by foll…
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Apr 16, 2020
Kenya with Danielle Maltby: social media, leaving your comfort zone, and conscious volunteerism
Fresh off The Bachelor franchise, Danielle Maltby (@dmmaltby) returned to her passion and calling as a NICU nurse, but thanks to newfound visibility from the show she also received some appealing new opportunities. One of them was to work with Lwala Community Alliance, a community-led effort to reduce maternal and child mortality in Kenya. On today's episode, Danielle describes the powerful two-week trip to Kenya that altered her perspective and encouraged her to live fully. She discusses the best way to use social media to spread the word, facing your fears head-on, and the complicated nature of volunteering with privilege.
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Mar 19, 2020
Paris with Jackie Kai Ellis: fighting depression, patisserie school, and why it’s never too late to start over
By society’s measures, Jackie Kai Ellis had an extremely successful life in her late-twenties; she was a designer, living with her husband in the beautiful city of Vancouver. Yet Jackie was struggling with depression and felt emptier than ever, trapped in a never-ending cycle of external validation. On today’s episode, Jackie shares the circumstances that led her to enroll in a Parisian patisserie school – an experience that restored joy for life and, most importantly, her sense of self. Jackie went on to separate from her husband, launch Beaucoup Bakery, write a cookbook and a memoir, and eventually relocate to Paris to start another business: The Paris Tours. Listen for Jackie's thoughts on how traveling forces you to be more present, the scariest part of making a massive life change, and why following your dreams, no matter how unrealistic they may seem, is the greatest privilege of all.
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Mar 5, 2020
Morocco with Mallory Solomon: work-life balance, disrupting the Moroccan rug industry, and travel as a remedy for anxiety
Mallory was born with an entrepreneurial spirit, and though she loved working with businesses to strategize and further their objectives, she was overworked and under-inspired at her New York advertising agency. After cancelling several solo trips due to the demands of her industry, she finally committed to a much-needed getaway in Morocco. On today's episode, Mallory shares experiences from that trip that inspired her to create Salam Hello – a textile company which champions the women artisans behind Morocco's famous rugs and pays them fairly for their work (something that’s outrageously rare in the current middle-man operated system). Learn how Mallory initially met the Berber women she works with now, why nights spent in the desert are different than the rest, and how spending time in Morocco "turns down the temperature" of her anxiety.
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Feb 20, 2020
The Entire World with Jessica Nabongo: fearlessness, responsible influencing, and treating the world as your neighborhood
Jessica Nabongo (@thecatchmeifyoucan) has been traveling internationally since she was just four years old, born to Ugandan immigrant parents who were no strangers to adventure and exploration. At a young age, she set a lofty goal for herself – to travel the entire world – and officially met her goal at just 35 years old. On today’s episode, Jessica shares stories from her experience as the first black woman to visit all 195 countries and document her journey along the way. She describes how she became an accidental influencer, the planning that goes into each of her destinations (which surprisingly isn’t too much), and some of the countries that have far exceeded her expectations. Jessica shares a heartwarming story that inspired her to keep going when she was feeling understandably tired and overwhelmed during her journey around the world. And last but not least, who better to give the best tips on packing and deals than Jessica?
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Feb 6, 2020
Paris with Nicole Smith: Instagram, risk-taking, and the ultimate souvenir
If you’ve ever wanted to capture a moment with a loved one while traveling, you’ve likely faced the awkward encounter of asking a stranger to take a photo, only to realize the final product is entirely subpar. On today’s episode, Nicole Smith shares how a reunion with her best friend in Paris gave her the idea for Flytographer, a company that connects travelers with local photographers around the world, capturing special moments and experiences in a way a selfie never could. While Nicole was satisfied with her career in tech and steady life back home in Canada, she couldn’t ignore the feeling that a need for better travel photography existed and ultimately decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. Over the last six years, Flytographer has expanded to three-hundred cities across six continents and has been hailed one of the fastest-growing startups in Canada. Anyone who wants to make an impact on the world of travel or may have a business idea they just can’t shake, th…
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Jan 23, 2020
Japan with Jacqueline Gifford: memory, childhood nostalgia, and the myth of having it all
As Editor-in-Chief of Travel + Leisure, Jacqueline Gifford spends a lot of time out of office exploring far-flung destinations. It’s a career she pursued, in part, thanks to her parents, who encouraged Jacqui’s cultural curiosity from the get-go. On today’s episode, Jacqueline shares a nostalgic trip to Japan, the country where she was born, at a particularly pivotal moment: her own pregnancy. We discuss what it was like to visit her childhood neighborhood after a 20-year absence, how her memories both differed from and reflected reality, and her approach to balancing a busy work life with raising a child. Plus, hear Jacqueline’s number one travel tip and the surprising item she cannot travel without.
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Jan 9, 2020
Argentina with Nicole Vargas: intuition, digital detoxes, and the art of solo travel
Back when feminist media company, Unearth Women, was just a twinkle in her eye, Nicole Vargas was an aspiring travel journalist trying to make it New York City. Immersed in the world of advertising and weeks from marrying a man who wasn't the one, Nikki took a solo trip to Argentina. On today’s episode, she recounts the journey that inspired her to quit her job, call off her wedding, and wholeheartedly pursue a career in travel writing. Nikki's story speaks to the importance of trusting intuition, doggedly chasing dreams, and summoning the bravery to start over. Plus, we discuss the next spots on Nikki’s travel bucket list and top tips for travel deals.
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Dec 26, 2019
Ireland with Rachel Friedman: friendship, travel writing, and conquering the quarter-life crisis
If ever you’ve found yourself directionless and uncertain of the future, you will relate to this week’s episode. Author Rachel Friedman shares the story of an impromptu trip to Ireland during her college years: an identity quest which changed her self-perception, brought an influential relationship into her life, and ultimately inspired her travel memoir, The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost. After arriving in Ireland with very few plans and feeling overwhelmed by the city of Dublin, Rachel headed to the smaller city of Galway (Incidentally 2020’s European Capital of Culture). It was there she befriended a girl named Carly, cultivating a friendship that trumped romance stories. Rachel discusses the beautiful way women look after one another, the importance of being a hometown traveler, and her top tips for aspiring travel writers. If you haven’t already, be sure to read Rachel’s first book, The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost, and her just-released second, And Then We…
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Dec 12, 2019
Paris with Atticus: fame, vulnerability, and the joy of skinny dipping
While the work of Atticus the poet is extremely famous (he’s written three NYT best-selling books and has 1.3 million Instagram followers), his identity remains a secret. The anonymous Canadian wears a mask for public appearances and has never revealed his real name. Not even to those fans with his words tattooed on their bodies. On today’s episode, Atticus reveals more of himself and his artistic origins, including the Hollywood “bad guy” who encouraged him to write, and the fleeting moment in Paris that inspired his very first poem (spoiler alert: it involves a beautiful woman). The trip highlighted a talent and passion for words he didn’t know he had. One that would send his life in a surprising new direction.
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Dec 12, 2019
Honduras with Ben Higgins: faith, entrepreneurship, and finding your purpose
If you’re a fan of ABC’s The Bachelor franchise then Ben Higgins will be very familiar to you. He was a contestant in The Bachelorette, star of The Bachelor, and now hosts The Bachelor Live On Stage and the Almost Famous Podcast (the theme of which is, you guessed it, all things Bachelor Nation). But Ben discovered his life’s mission long before he appeared on television for the first time. In today’s episode, Ben shares the first travel experience that showed him a world outside of his small town: a church mission trip to Honduras. This journey inspired him to pursue a compassion-driven life and ultimately to create his own company, Generous Coffee, as a way to support the Honduras-focused non-profit, Humanity & Hope United. A must-listen for anybody still looking for that one thing that makes their soul sing.
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Dec 12, 2019
South Africa with Gail Simmons: taste buds, safaris, and raising little travelers
Gail Simmons is a Canadian food writer, cookbook author, and judge on BRAVO’s Top Chef whose love of food started as far back as she can recall. Since childhood, Gail regularly traveled with her family to South Africa, her father’s country of origin. On today's episode, Gail shares the myriad of ways the country sparked her early interest in the world around her and introduced her to new cuisine. The powerful sensory memories she developed have stayed with her to this day. From going on safari, to taking her first sip of wine, to witnessing apartheid, her trips to South Africa are a testament to the educational value of leaving one’s own bubble. It’s a lesson Gail now instills in her two young children, Dahlia and Kole.
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Dec 2, 2019
Introducing The Trip That Changed Me
Starting on December 12, we dive into conversations with entrepreneurs, activists, entertainers, authors, and everyday adventurers about the formative trip that changed the course of their lives. Tune in every other Thursday for a new travel story that will inspire you to take on the world.
First guests include: Top Chef's Gail Simmons, NYT Best-Selling poet Atticus, and former Bachelor star Ben Higgins.
Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and we'll see you on December 12.
The Trip That Changed Me is produced by Full-Time Travel in conjunction with Podcast Nation. Follow along on Instagram at @full_time_travel.
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